General Chat

has anyone been on a escorted holiday ? if did you enjoy it ? as I am unable to drive very far these days we was thinking of going on one next year.

We have done a couple of escorted train trips using Eurostar. You need to be able to manage to move your own suitcase around,although some companies do offer a door to door luggage service if you pay extra

We did a short trip to Bruges which included trips out to the battle fields. We also did a longer trip to the Dordogne. Again the organisation and trips were good, but it included communal evening meals which was a bit too organised for us. We preferred the Bruge one because it only included breakfast.

We did a coach tour of North Italy a couple of years ago. It was very good, although we really saw too much in too short a time.

The basic price was B & B, but for a bit extra you could have an evening meal included.

The daily meal rate was the same everywhere, so the best food was in Italy and the worst in Austria (because the cost of living is so high that the allowance didn't cover much!!).

thank you both for your reply,s we was thinking of going on one with grand uk holidays were they take care of your luggage for you from the time you get to were your going it will be breakfast and evening meal. seems quite reasonable not sure were yet.

I've not been with them , but my parents used to go with sarga (sp), and said they were very good about taking the luggage for you . iris

Titan holidays are good and even collect and deliver you and your luggage back to your own front door....downside is they are expensive and most of their tours are overseas

We've been on a couple of escorted tours.

Take note of what they say about how much walking there is - both times we had people with us that couldn't manage the walking.

Anysmum was lucky in Italy - most of our included evening meals were appalling - luckily some nights we were on our own.

The Tour Manager can make or break your trip - our one in Italy was embarrassingly childish.

If you are over 65 it might be worth looking at those where the visits are not included as you can get in free (with ID) to many European tourist venues.

Good Luck

Various things to consider on an escorted tour.

I came back yesterday from a Titan holiday. Door to door service is excellent, other tour operators are available I am sure. To be collected from home, taken to the airport, handed over to their own staff, e ticket sorted, shown where to take the luggage, but you would have to be able to lift the cases onto the scales at the airport. Longish walk to the plane via the travellator thingy. On arrival at the airport for your return home, staff are waiting and you are whisked home immediately.

Many holidays are room only, would you be happy looking for a restaurant, or buying a meal in your hotel. Some have various excursions, would you be able to walk the distance, or would you by paying for something you couldn't manage. The tour manager/or travel agent is always on hand for advice. Talk to them. Can you manage the steps of the coach so that you are not holding up another 50 people waiting to get out. Cases are delivered to your room, normally. Can you manage to sit for a couple of hours+ between comfort stops without suffering from cramp, aching knees, back aches. Can you cope with a group of 50 people all saying 'good morning' every day if you are not a morning person.
Why not try a long weekend with a small suitcase and see how it goes. If one tour is a lot cheaper than another, there will be a reason, believe me. Stay in England the first time.
The good points are : no driving, no parking, no parking charges, no deciding where to go, no meals to make, if full board, no charges for pre arranged excursions and you never know you might even make friends.......but don't ever put them on your Christmas list.-j

Ours was very flexible regarding excursions. They were prepaid and the coach took us into the town and we then had time on our own, so we could wander, or visit museums, churches etc. Lunch usually had to be fitted into this time as well.

People could save money by opting out of the excursions - they were dropped off on the outskirts of the town and then made their own way into the centre. This took longer than on the coach and those that did it found the public transport ranged from excellent to non-existent!!

Price-wise, ours was probably in the middle. Not as expensive as Saga, but certainly not cut-price cheap. Accommodation was mostly 3*, the coaches were modern and comfortable, the drivers were good and the Tour Operator was excellent.

Give it a go, Michael. It's not the Ritz, but it's a reasonably priced way to see places without the hassle of driving/booking hotels etc. :-) :-)

My parents went on several coach touring holidays with Saga. one of the main reasons for choosing Saga was that their suitcases would be collected from their room on each departure and loaded into the coach, and same in reverse when they checked into each new hotel. They were all right with the walking too, because you weren't expected to walk too much, but if you wanted to you could.

My mate had an escorted holiday when he was in the army............sounded like he was going to a garden centre, but actually it was the "Glasshouse"

Bob

thank you all for your comments yesterday we went on a day trip to Belgium we met up with a couple who had been on escorted holidays with the company we were thinking about they said it was great and would recommend it to any one. so now all we have to do is think when and where. :-) :-)